Sheila open to bigger role, but after Commonwealth Games

Delhi chief minister for nine years and now ready for a bigger role? Sheila Dikshit shies away from a direct answer and says she has the Commonwealth Games to take care of at the moment and the decision rests with the Congress "high command".

“We have the Commonwealth Games ahead next year. After that we will see. It is for the high command to decide,” Dikshit told a television channel Thursday when asked if she was prepared for a bigger role at the centre.

Echoing what general secretary Rahul Gandhi had said at a press conference Tuesday, Dikshit said the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) were "welcome" to join the United Progressive Alliance.

The Congress leader also spoke out about Rahul Gandhi's prime ministerial potential.

“Here we have a person who is growing up, learning and making all efforts. The time will come soon,” she said, reiterating that Manmohan Singh was the party's prime ministerial candidate this time.

Asked about political families taking over the political arena, including her MP son Sandeep Dikshit, she said: “The family raj is only an opportunity they get for a first time. But thereafter they have to prove themselves. Be it Sandeep or anybody else. If they are not accepted by the masses, they are out.”